Arizona proposal to repeal legislative immunity may be dead

PHOENIX — A legislative proposal backed by Gov. Doug Ducey to ask voters to repeal the state constitutional provision that shields lawmakers from arrest in some circumstances may be dead.

The Arizona Capitol Times reports that House Speaker Rusty Bowers hasn't assigned the resolution to repeal legislative immunity to a committee for consideration and that a Bowers spokesman says Bowers has no intention of allowing the measure to move through the House.

Ducey used his Jan. 14 State of the State address to salute Rep. T.J. Shope for introducing the legislation and to proclaim that nobody is "above the law."

The most recent reported instance of a lawmaker invoking legislative immunity occurred in 2018 when then-Rep. Paul Mosley was pulled over for speeding.